Celeste "Sally" Van Remortel

Celeste (Sally) Van Remortel, 99, De Pere, passed away June 15, 2017. The daughter of the late Joseph and Marie (Villemure) De Grand was born Sept. 5, 1917, in Escanaba, Mich. She graduated from Escanaba High School, Class of 1935 and Cloverland Business College, Escanaba in 1939. She was employed as a bookkeeper at National Biscuit Co. in Escanaba for a few years. When the head bookkeeper at the Madison Agency of National Biscuit Co. was drafted into the Army, she was sent to Madison to take his place. She worked as head bookkeeper and office manager until 1945, when her fiancé returned from service in the South Pacific with the Red Arrow-32nd Division. On April 4, 1945, she and Anthony Van Remortel were married at St. Anne’s Church in Escanaba. After they were married they settled in De Pere. Tony preceded her in death in 1960, leaving her with eight children to bring up on her own. After the children were grown, she went back to work; she took a bookkeeping job at De Pere Automotive Supply and was employed there for 14 years. She retired in 1983. After her retirement, she became involved in volunteering. She joined St. Mary’s Refunders, St. Vincent de Paul, delivered Mobile Meals for St Vincent Hospital, sang in the Resurrection Choir and joined St Mary’s Quilters. She was a league bowler for 30 years and an avid Packer fan. She enjoyed sewing and made hundreds of baby quilts, most of them being sold at area arts and craft shows. She also made a quilt for each of her grandchildren. She loved taking care of her flowers, watching the birds from her kitchen window and loved to watch beautiful sunsets. She loved to travel, going on several camping trips in the summer with her son, Pete and his wife, Deb. One highlight of her life was a trip to Alaska with her daughter, Kathy in 1996. She is a member of St. Mary Catholic Community, the St. Mary Christian Ladies and 60 years with the National Catholic Society of Foresters. She is survived by her eight children, Mary Louise De Grand, John (Kim) Van Remortel, Peter (Deborah) Van Remortel, Julie (Greg) Scheer, Joan (Dave Duffey) Arts, Kathy (fiancé, Mike Beaumia) Van Remortel, Paul (fiancé Marina Lohkamp) Van Remortel, Barb (Jeff) White. She is also survived by 15 grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, one brother, Gerald De Grand, St. Paul, Minn. and sister-in-law, Laurel DeGrand, Manistique, Mich., and many cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one infant great-grandchild, five brothers and one sister and all of her in-laws, one daughter-in-law and her beautiful cat “Putchan’’. Family and friends may visit at St. Mary Catholic Church, 4805 Sportman Dr., Ledgeview, on Wednesday, June 21, 2017, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. with the Rev. Binu Varghese, O.Praem officiating. Interment in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Cotter Funeral Home and Crematory is assisting the family. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the St. Mary’s Quilters. The family would like to express gratitude to the staff at Birch Creek Assisted Living for the care they provided to her during her last three years, as well as to Unity Hospice.